By: Deborah Johnson Wood
The $4.3 million expansion of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company's Meijer-Royce Center for Dance opened September 12 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a gala fundraising event that entertained 220 people the following evening. The addition at 341 Ellsworth SW adds 20,000 square feet to the existing theatre, bringing the total square footage to 40,000.
The 300-seat handicap-accessible Peter Martin Wege Theatre includes a 50-foot by 50-foot performance space with a custom dance floor cushioned by springs to protect the dancers' knees and ankles from unnecessary impact. Two new large dressing rooms, a shop where performers' costumes are made, and a darkroom where costumes are stored to prevent damage from ultraviolet rays round out the performers' area.
'"The purpose for building the theatre was to expand on our dancers theatre series," says Scott Kearney, board president. "Our previous performance space only held 100 people. We still maintained the intimacy in the new theatre because the front row is only about three feet from the stage, and the stage is at knee height. It's very dramatic when the dancers are on stage."
The building has a green sedum roof, carpeting made with recycled materials, and a cork floor in the lobby. The ballet company will seek Silver LEED certification for the addition.
A portion of the $6.2 million capital campaign will fund the creation of an all-new story ballet, and new Nutcracker sets, costumes, staging, and lighting. The ballet will continue to hold its major spring and fall performances and the Nutcracker at DeVos Performance Hall.
Source: Scott Kearney, Grand Rapids Ballet Company
Ballet photo courtesy of Sandi Gunnett, Terzes Photography
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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